Head and crown suspension for protective helmet

ABSTRACT

The head suspension consists of a continuous rigid outer strap and an inner strap. The outer strap is secured to the inside of the shell of a helmet and consists of a number of tightly stretched loops and links which in part define a continuous band spaced apart from the shell. The inner strap extends circumferentially with the outer strap to contact the wearer&#39;&#39;s head and is connected to the outer strap preferably at four only points spaced along the inner strap length. Preferably the inner strap is composed of three segments disposed in end-to-end relationship. The segments have overlapping end portions disposed between all but one pair of adjacent points and means is provided for adjusting the overlap of the end portions. The crown suspension consists of upper and lower dome-shaped elements each having a central portion and radially extending legs. The legs of the upper element are connected to the shell and means is provided for adjusting the position of the legs of the lower element relative to the upper element legs to enable the lower element to be fitted to various sized heads.

United States Patent [1 1 1 51 Apr. 22 1975 Lamb [76] Inventor: CharlesCarlisle T. Lamb. 22

Reynolds St.. Oakville. Ontario. Canada [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 [21]Appl. No.: 430,297

Primary E.\'aminerWerner H. Schroeder Altorney. Agent. or Firm.lames T.Wilbur; Frank 1. Piper; Arne 1. Fors [57] ABSTRACT The head suspensionconsists of a continuous rigid outer strap and an inner strap. The outerstrap is secured to the inside of the shell of a helmet and consists ofa number of tightly stretched loops and links which in part define acontinuous band spaced apart from the shell. The inner strap extendscircumferentially with the outer strap to contact the wearer's head andis connected to the outer strap preferably at four only points spacedalong the inner strap length. Preferably the inner strap is composed ofthree segments disposed in end-to-end relationship. The segments haveoverlapping end portions disposed between all but one pair of adjacentpoints and means is provided for adjusting the overlap of the endportions.

The crown suspension consists of upper and lower" dome-shaped elementseach having a central portion and radially extending legs. The legs ofthe upper element are connected to the shell and means is provided foradjusting the position of the legs of the lower element relative to theupper element legs to enablethe lower element to be fitted to varioussized heads.

6 Claims. 4 Drawing Figures PATEmEnmzzms iavemssz SHEET 1 2 1 HEAD ANDCROWN SUSPENSION FOR PROTECTIVE HELMET This invention relates generallyto protective hats and more particularly to a novel suspension means orliner for use with helmets. Specifically. the invention is concernedwith a suspension means suitable for use with protective helmets andwhich includes a head suspension and a crown suspension both of whichmay be adjusted whereby the suspension means will fit a wide range ofhead sizes.

Suspension or liners for use with protective helmets usually arecomposed of two basic parts. One part is generally referred to as thehead suspension and extends horizontally around the wearer's head atapproxi mately the level of an ordinary hat band. The head suspensionserves principally to cushion generally horizontally directed blows onthe outer shell of the helmet. The other part is generally referred toas the crown suspension and extends over the top of the wearers head.The latter suspension serves to cushion blows di-- rected generallydownwardly against the shell.

A shortcoming of many crown and head suspensions is that they areincapable of preventing the shell from contacting the wearer's head whenthe outside wall of the shell is struck by a blow. The suspensions donot form a rigid "framework" which will maintain the wearers head inspaced relationship with the shell but rather will permit the shell tomove relative to the head. Such suspensions are not satisfactory for usein helmets worn by participants of contact sports or by constructionworkers who are exposed to violent blows about their heads.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a helmetliner having head and crown suspensions which effectively absorb impactsor blows impinging on the helmet and which may be readily adjusted tofit a wide range of head sizes.

It is another object to provide a one-piece head suspension which may bereadily molded from plastic or like moldable material and which may befitted into a protective shell with a minimum of labour.

The head suspension of the invention is intended to he used within aprotective helmet having a shell adapted to encircle a wearers head andin spaced relationship thereto. said head suspension including: aonepiece outer strap composed of a plurality of loops and links. saidloops being disposed circumferentially in side by side relationship.successive said loops being connected by a respective said link. saidloops adapted to be secured at positions along the inside of the shellin such manner that said loops and links are tightly stretched and suchthat said links and a portion of said loops define a continuous bandwhich is spaced apart from said shell and which encircles the wearershead at approximately the level with respect to the wearer's head of anormal but band. said head suspension further including an inner strapconnected to said outer strap and adapted to contact the wearer's headat least in part at said level. and means for adjusting the effectivelength of said inner strap to increase or decrease the size thereof.

The crown suspension of the invention consists of: upper and lowerdome-shaped elements each having a central portion and radiallyoutwardly extending legs. the legs of the upper element extending to andadapted to be secured to said shell. the legs of the lower elementextending along and in contact with said upper element legs butterminating short of said shell. means for adjusting the location of thelower element legs relative ment of the head and crown suspensions. lnthe drawings:

FlG. l is an elevation. partly in section. ofthe suspension means of theinvention incorporated in a shell;

FIG. 2 is a view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

HO. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view on line 3-3 of HG. l: and

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the suspension means and helmet.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the descriptionof the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the helmet illustrated is of conventional designhaving a semi-rigid resinous shell 10 and a suspension means. generally12 to position the shell on a wearers head in such fashion that it ismaintained in spaced relationship with the head to absorb the shock ofblows imparted to the external surface of the shell.

The suspension means is composed of a horizontal head-encircling. headsuspension generally 14 and a crown suspension generally 15. Thecomponents of both suspensions are composed of tough inelastic fabric orpolymeric material such as polyethylene or rubber. Preferably. thesuspension means is of onepiece molded plastic construction. Withreference first to the head suspension 14 and to FIG. 4, this suspensionin eludes a continuous one-piece outer strap composed of a plurality oftightly stretched loops l6 and links 18. The loops are spaced apart fromone another along the inside wall of the shell and successive loops areinterconnected by means of the links 18 which together with theinner-most portions or reaches 16a or each loop dc.- fine a smoothcontinuous band. generally 20 which extends circumferentially within theshell. By means of the loops. the outer band 20 is held rigidly in aposition spaced apart from the shell. A continuous inner band or strap22 extends circumferentially within outer band 20 except for a portion20a thereof which is coextensive with band 20. I

The inner band 22 is composed of a first elongated segment 22a adaptedin use to extend between the two temporal bones or thereabouts andacross the forehead or frontal bone of the wearer. A second segment 22boverlaps one end of the first segment 22a and extends generallyhorizontally then diagonally downwardly as at 24 (FIG. 3) to contact thebase of the occipital bone. The latter segment terminates at a pointapproximately at the rear of the wearers head. A third segment 22coverlaps the end of the second segment and extends to overlap the otherend of the first segment 22a. The three segments which make up the innerband 22 this form a continuous ring adapted to contact and to encirclethe wearers head.

The second and third inner band segments 22b. 22c are attached to theouter band 20 by means of links 26.28 (FIG. 4).

With reference to FIG. 3, the overlapping end portions of band segments22!). 220 are provided with an adjustment means. generally 32 whichpermits the selective lengthening and shortening of the distance.

measured along these band segments. between the points of attachment ofthese segments with links 26, 28. The adjustment means is composed ofaplurality of rows of spaced apertures 34 formed in the overlapping endportion of band segment 22b. The overlapping end portion of band segment220 is provided with spaced outwardly projecting studs 36 (HO. 1). Thespacing of the studs corresponds to the spacing of the apertures so thatby moving the end portions of the two hand segments relative to oneanother. the studs are brought into registry with selective apertures 34along the length of the end portion of band segment 22/2. The head sizewith which the various apertures correspond is marked on band segment22/) as at 37.

Each of the studs 36 is provided with an enlarged head which is slightlylarger than apertures 34. Because the material from which the band isfabricated is resilient and flexible. the enlarged heads can be easilyforced through the apertures 34 but at the same time the material issufficiently resilient so as to maintain the connection until it isdesired to separate the two end portions as by pulling them apart.

Extending along each side edge of the end portion of band segment 220 isan overhanging guide 38a. 38/: which serves to maintain the two endportions of segments 22b. 220 in slidable contact with one another.

The overlapping ends of band segments 22a. 22b and segments 22a. 220 arealso provided with adjustments means generally 44. 46 respectively ofthe same construction as that of adjustment means 32. Adjustment means44 permits variation of the distance. measured along band segments 22a.22:. between the point of attachment of segment 22c with link 26 and thepoint of attachment ofsegment 22a with the outer band 20. Adjustmentmeans 46 permits a like variation in the distance measured alongsegments 22a. 22/).

With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 2. the outer loop segments 16 areconnected to the shell by means of metallic or plastic rivets 48. Rivets48 also serve to attach the ends of the crown portion 15 to the shell inthe manner explained below.

The crown suspension 15 is composed of upper and lower dome-shapedelements 50, 52 respectively. both of which having slitted central ventsas shown in FIG. 4 and indicated 53, and legs 54. 56 respectively whichradiate outwardly from the central portions. Legs 54 terminate at theshell and are connected thereto by means of rivets 48 while legs 56terminate short of the shell. Legs 54. 56 are provided with anadjustment means generally 58 (FIG. 1) of the same construction asadjustment means 32 to permit adjustment of the curvature of the lowerelement 52 to accommodate various head sizes. As shown the adjustmentmeans is composed of a plurality of rows of spaced apertures 60 formedin each leg 54 for receipt ofupwardly extending studs 62 formed in eachleg 56. As seen the stud heads are enlarged to maintain the connectionuntil it is desired to'separate the upper and lower elements 50. 52.

It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in theembodiments described and illustrated herein without departing from thescope and purview of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

l. A head suspension for use within a protective helmet having a shelladapted to encircle a wearer's head and in spaced relationship thereto.said head suspension including: a outer strap composed of a plurality ofloops and links. said loops being disposed circumferentially in side byside relationship. successive said loops being connected by a respectivesaid link. said loops adapted to be secured at positions along theinside of the shell in such manner that said loops and links are tightlystretched and such that said links and a portion of said loops define acontinuous band which is spaced apart from said shell and whichencircles the wearer's head at approximately the level with respect tothe wearers head of a normal hat band. said head suspension furtherincluding an inner strap connected to said outer strap and adapted tocontact the wearer's head at least in part at said level. and means foradjusting the effective length of said inner strap to increase ordecrease the size thereof.

2. A head suspension for use within a protective helmet having a shelladapted to encircle a wearers head and in spaced relationship thereto.said head suspension consisting of a continuous rigid outer strapadapted to extend within said shell and to be secured at positionsspaced along the length thereof to the inside of the shell atapproximately the level with respect to the wearer's head of a normalhat band. an inner strap adapted to contact a wearer's head andextending circumferentially within said outer strap. said inner strapbeing connected to said outer strap at four only points spaced along thelength of said inner strap such that said inner strap is adapted to bemaintained rigidly in position within and spaced apart from said shell.said inner strap being composed of a plurality of segments disposed ingenerally end-toend relationship. said segments having overlapping endportions disposed between all but one pair of adjacent said points. thedistance between the pair of said points lacking said overlapping endportions being less than the distance between the remaining pairs ofsaid points. and means for adjusting the amount of overlap of said endportions to vary the circumference of the inner strap to increase ordecrease the size thereof.

3. The head suspension as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner strapextends in one part at approximately the level with respect to thewearer's head of a normal hat band and in the other part at a levelbelow that of the normal hat band. said first part adapted to extendbetween the two temporal bones and across the frontal bone of the wearerwhile the other part adapted to contact the base of the occipital bone.

4. The head suspension as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner bandadjusting means comprises a plurality of apertures formed in one of eachpair of overlapping end portions and outwardly extending studs formed inthe other of each pair of overlapping end portions. said studs beingreleasably engageable in selective said apertures.

5. The head suspension as claimed in claim 2 wherein said inner strap isadapted to extend in one part at approximately the level with respect tothe wearers head of a normal hat band and in the other part at a levelbelow that of the normal hat band. said first part adapted to extendbetween the two temporal bones and across the frontal bone of the wearerwhile the other part adapted to contact the base of the occipital bone.

6. The head suspension as claimed in claim 2 wherein said inner bandadjusting means comprises a plurality of apertures formed in one of eachpair of overlapping end portions and outwardly extending studs formed inthe other of each pair of overlapping end portions. said studs beingreleasably engageable in selective said ap-

1. A head suspension for use within a protective helmet having a shelladapted to encircle a weareR''s head and in spaced relationship thereto,said head suspension including: a outer strap composed of a plurality ofloops and links, said loops being disposed circumferentially in side byside relationship, successive said loops being connected by a respectivesaid link, said loops adapted to be secured at positions along theinside of the shell in such manner that said loops and links are tightlystretched and such that said links and a portion of said loops define acontinuous band which is spaced apart from said shell and whichencircles the wearer''s head at approximately the level with respect tothe wearer''s head of a normal hat band, said head suspension furtherincluding an inner strap connected to said outer strap and adapted tocontact the wearer''s head at least in part at said level, and means foradjusting the effective length of said inner strap to increase ordecrease the size thereof.
 1. A head suspension for use within aprotective helmet having a shell adapted to encircle a weareR''s headand in spaced relationship thereto, said head suspension including: aouter strap composed of a plurality of loops and links, said loops beingdisposed circumferentially in side by side relationship, successive saidloops being connected by a respective said link, said loops adapted tobe secured at positions along the inside of the shell in such mannerthat said loops and links are tightly stretched and such that said linksand a portion of said loops define a continuous band which is spacedapart from said shell and which encircles the wearer''s head atapproximately the level with respect to the wearer''s head of a normalhat band, said head suspension further including an inner strapconnected to said outer strap and adapted to contact the wearer''s headat least in part at said level, and means for adjusting the effectivelength of said inner strap to increase or decrease the size thereof. 2.A head suspension for use within a protective helmet having a shelladapted to encircle a wearer''s head and in spaced relationship thereto,said head suspension consisting of a continuous rigid outer strapadapted to extend within said shell and to be secured at positionsspaced along the length thereof to the inside of the shell atapproximately the level with respect to the wearer''s head of a normalhat band, an inner strap adapted to contact a wearer''s head andextending circumferentially within said outer strap, said inner strapbeing connected to said outer strap at four only points spaced along thelength of said inner strap such that said inner strap is adapted to bemaintained rigidly in position within and spaced apart from said shell,said inner strap being composed of a plurality of segments disposed ingenerally end-to-end relationship, said segments having overlapping endportions disposed between all but one pair of adjacent said points, thedistance between the pair of said points lacking said overlapping endportions being less than the distance between the remaining pairs ofsaid points, and means for adjusting the amount of overlap of said endportions to vary the circumference of the inner strap to increase ordecrease the size thereof.
 3. The head suspension as claimed in claim 1,wherein said inner strap extends in one part at approximately the levelwith respect to the wearer''s head of a normal hat band and in the otherpart at a level below that of the normal hat band, said first partadapted to extend between the two temporal bones and across the frontalbone of the wearer while the other part adapted to contact the base ofthe occipital bone.
 4. The head suspension as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid inner band adjusting means comprises a plurality of aperturesformed in one of each pair of overlapping end portions and outwardlyextending studs formed in the other of each pair of overlapping endportions, said studs being releasably engageable in selective saidapertures.
 5. The head suspension as claimed in claim 2 wherein saidinner strap is adapted to extend in one part at approximately the levelwith respect to the wearer''s head of a normal hat band and in the otherpart at a level below that of the normal hat band, said first partadapted to extend between the two temporal bones and across the frontalbone of the wearer while the other part adapted to contact the base ofthe occipital bone.